If you are trying to collect unpaid debts and have exhausted your company’s internal resources, it is probably time to get a little more aggressive. For many businesses, this typically means hiring a collection agency. However, there’s one pretty major drawback to using one: They can’t bring the matter to court. As a result, their efforts often fail. Many times–especially when it comes to collecting large or extremely old debts–the best thing to do is to hire a collection lawyer. If you require the services of Utah collection attorneys, you can take your pick from many options. How can you find the right one? Read on to learn more.
Why Hire a Collection Attorney?
First, consider why you want to hire a collection lawyer in the first place. Couldn’t you get by with a collection agency instead? Collection agencies certainly do work out well under many circumstances. However, because they are not law firms, they do not have the ability to bring their debt collection efforts to court. Some agencies contract out the work, but that means that you are going to pay far more. Hiring collection attorneys helps you to cut to the chase and increases the odds that you will collect the debt–even if it is very old or complex.
Tips for Finding the Right Utah Collection Attorneys
In most metro areas, there are plenty of collection attorneys to choose from. However, it is never a good idea to choose one at random. If you are serious about collecting as much of the debt as possible, devote some time to researching the available options. Your efforts will pay off later when you find a collection attorney who understands your needs and who has the skills and credentials that are needed to address them.
Keep these tips in mind when seeking collection lawyers in Utah:
- Check Their Track Record – It is easy for an attorney to state that they have assisted numerous clients with similar situations as yours. Never just take their word for it. Thanks to the internet, it is easier than ever to see what others have to say about various professional services. Do some searching to see what the world at large has to say about the law firm in question. You might also ask around to see if any of your connections have worked with the firm in the past.
- Insist on References – A skilled collection lawyer will be more than happy to provide references upon request. Do not hire an attorney who won’t do so, as it raises all kinds of red flags. References are great because you can hear directly from people who have used the attorney’s services in the past. Instead of relying on what the attorney wants you to hear, you can hear it straight from their former clients’ mouths. When speaking with references, have a list of questions ready to go, and pose the same ones to each. You should come away with a strong idea of whether the attorney is right for you or not.
- Ask About Their Area or Areas of Focus – Collection attorneys often specialize in assisting certain types of clients or in collecting certain types of debt. If you get mismatched in this department, your debt collection efforts may not pan out very well. Look for collection lawyers that tend to handle clients and situations that are similar to yours. If you own a small business, for instance, stick with a lawyer who typically works with small companies. If you are trying to collect a massive amount of really old debt, hire an attorney who has a strong record of collecting that type of debt.
- Find Out What Methods They Employ – Find out precisely how the attorney who you are considering to hire will go about collecting the debt that you are owed. All too often, companies hire collection attorneys without bothering to learn about their methodologies, and they come away very disappointed. The right collection lawyer will have an array of resources at their disposal, including skip tracing. They will know how to draft effective letters that produce results. Most importantly, they will be willing to take the matter to court if other techniques fail.
- Learn About Their Fee Structure – Since you are trying to collect a debt, you would probably like to keep as much of it as possible. Get a clear understanding of how the lawyer who you hire will be compensated for their work. Some attorneys charge a flat fee. More commonly, they work on contingency, which means that they only collect a fee if they collect the debt. Contingency fees typically range from 25 percent to 45 percent. Factors affecting how fees are charged include the age of the debt, the size of the debt and how long it takes to recover it.
- Make Sure That They Will Represent You in Court – Ideally, hiring a collection lawyer will show your debtor that you are serious. Many times, debtors finally cooperate after realizing that the matter could very well end up in court. However, if a settlement won’t happen, your attorney should be willing and able to bring the matter to court on your behalf. Ask the attorney who you are considering hiring how often they bring such cases to court and whether they would have any issues with bringing yours to court if need be. If they seem at all reluctant to do so, look elsewhere.
Regardless of the size of your business, the age of the debt that is owed, the size of the debt that is owed and other factors, you are entitled to take whatever actions are allowed by law to collect money that is owed to your business. Without question, hiring collection lawyers is the most effective way to go about doing this–as long as you hire the right ones. Keep the above tips in mind to ensure that you hire the right attorneys to assist you with debt recovery.